BD needs attention to get German labour mkt

Reza Mahmud :
Bangladesh needs to give attention to capture the opportunity of sending skilled manpower to Germany, as the European country initiated to hire about four lakh of foreign workers annually.
The west European country has taken the initiative of introducing green card systems for hiring workers from abroad in face of huge shortages of workforce.
As per the sources of German Labour Ministry, the government of the country is introducing its own version of a ‘green card’, the Chancenkarte (literally ‘opportunity card’), in an attempt to plug its desperate labour shortage.
German industry associations have been complaining for some time, and the Labour Ministry has suggested the shortfall is slowing economic growth.
In this situation, Labour Minister Hubertus Heil presented the ‘opportunity card,’ to the German media in last month which to offer foreign nationals the chance to come to Germany to look for work even without a job offer.
The opportunity suggested to fulfil at least three of given four criteria which are, 1) A university degree or professional qualification, 2) Professional experience of at least three years, 3) Language skills or previous residence in Germany and 4) Aged will be under 35.
Stake holders of manpower sector said that there is huge opportunity to catch the German labour market as numbers of Bangladeshi university graduates are keen to get a job in developed west Europe.
Besides, many skilled and experienced workers also are eager to leave country for getting job in European countries.  
They, however, said there is lack of giving adequate attentions from the government level to catch the ‘golden opportunity’. Even the Expatriates’ welfare ministry is yet to ask the stakeholders of the sector to get well informed about the matter so that the necessary steps can be done.
When contacted, Mohammed Fakhrul Islam Joint Secretary General-1, of Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA) told The New Nation on Saturday, “Bangladesh have a good number of experienced and skilled workers who have worked long in different European countries like Italy, Greece and similar others. If we get the proper channel of German labor market there will be no shortage of skilled worker to send there. But, we yet to let know about the matter well. We have no any clear evidence about how the Germany will recruit the manpower.”
He said if the government takes initiative to capture the market, there will be something revolutionary in this sector to boost remittance earnings.
When contacted, Md. Shahidul Alam, Director General of the Bureau of Manpower Employment and Training (BMET) told The New Nation on Saturday, “The government always gives importance to capturing opportunities of sending manpower abroad like the European countries. Opening new opportunity of German labour market will be very important to us.”
He said the BMET training centers are capable to create skilled workers as per the demand of German market.
“We are getting information on the matter and to send labour there through proper channel,” he said.